Slight shudder under light acceleration - is it normal??

[kiwiklogg]

Hi Guys,

I've got an MY10 R36 and since day one it has had a niggly issue. Under very light acceleration, particularly noticeable in stop-start traffic, there is a noticeable vibration/shudder that can be felt in the car. It does it both in reverse and forward and seems to get a bit worse once the car is warmed up. Its not violent, but definitely noticeable.

I have been back and forth to the dealer several times and most recently the dealer, under instruction from VW, arranged for the mechatronics unit to be replaced. This has been done - but the problem still remains. The dealer suggested I "give it 1000kms and see how it goes". Almost that many k's later - the problem still remains.

Has anyone else experienced this problem or has a theory as to what might be wrong? Is it a clutch issue, engine issue, transmission issue...? I'm pretty sure its not normal behaviour as I test drove other MY10 R36s and they were, from memory, perfectly smooth.

[Cro]

Mine has had this from about 10k and now at 60k it hasn't got worse but it is still there.
I keep forgetting to mention it at services because I've modified my driving style to get around it.

[GTI147]

Me too! I've got 6K on the clock and I noticed it when I picked it up! Wasn't sure if it was me being too sensitive but with light acceleration it gave slight vibration at the start stop. Got the foreman to go for a drive with me when I had around 2K on the clock but we couldn't replicate it. Seems to have gone away now but it could be because I've gotten used to it??

[ron]

do you guys experience these shudder after changing from or to R or D or from N?
maybe its the clutch engaging on stalling up.?

[Radius]

Yes we get this too with ours, particularly in reverse up steep inclines. More revs usually settles the vibration but doesn't seem to bring a huge amount more momentum... agree with Ron that it's probably clutch engagement related... question is, is this normal for the DSG's? I'm curious as this is my first DSG & I've been accepting it thus far as normal. Haven't really noticed it in forward progress though... perhaps because we use the autohold which jerks a bit when releasing anyway.

[R36 Dreamer]

Yes we get this too with ours, particularly in reverse up steep inclines. More revs usually settles the vibration but doesn't seem to bring a huge amount more momentum... agree with Ron that it's probably clutch engagement related... question is, is this normal for the DSG's? I'm curious as this is my first DSG & I've been accepting it thus far as normal. Haven't really noticed it in forward progress though... perhaps because we use the autohold which jerks a bit when releasing anyway.

Sounds like the mechatronics issue - mine felt more like it was popping out of gear for a split second when moving off the line, then engaging - was really rough.

New mechatronics unit sorted it out.

to be honest had I not had a DSG previously I would have thought is was just the new fangled gearbox, and most journos do describe them as jerky at low speed.

I am no expert but thats what it sounds like.

[apom]

Mine can be quite jerky when giving it a bootfull on take off, especially if its a hill. Is this the same sort of thing people are experiencing?

[SharifE]

do you guys experience these shudder after changing from or to R or D or from N?
maybe its the clutch engaging on stalling up.?

I do get a bit of a jerk between R and D, I think its probably normal just clutch engaging..used to it.

[ron]

i would say this is quite normal. it is a manual box with twin clutch electronic controlled after all.
when i test drove M3 with similar box and it felt the same. Friends 997 turbo is also similar.
try reverse up a steep hill the box will stall even higher to avoid sudden clutch engagement.

[R36]

Hi Guys,

I've got an MY10 R36 and since day one it has had a niggly issue. Under very light acceleration, particularly noticeable in stop-start traffic, there is a noticeable vibration/shudder that can be felt in the car. It does it both in reverse and forward and seems to get a bit worse once the car is warmed up. Its not violent, but definitely noticeable.

I have been back and forth to the dealer several times and most recently the dealer, under instruction from VW, arranged for the mechatronics unit to be replaced. This has been done - but the problem still remains. The dealer suggested I "give it 1000kms and see how it goes". Almost that many k's later - the problem still remains.

Has anyone else experienced this problem or has a theory as to what might be wrong? Is it a clutch issue, engine issue, transmission issue...? I'm pretty sure its not normal behaviour as I test drove other MY10 R36s and they were, from memory, perfectly smooth.

I had a similar issue with mine and it was caused by the faulty mechatronics unit.

[Wyatt]

Sounds like the mechatronics issue - mine felt more like it was popping out of gear for a split second when moving off the line, then engaging - was really rough.

New mechatronics unit sorted it out.

to be honest had I not had a DSG previously I would have thought is was just the new fangled gearbox, and most journos do describe them as jerky at low speed.

I am no expert but thats what it sounds like.

This is what I've been experiencing! It feels like a bit of accelerator lag - you put your foot down and for a split second there's nothing and then it engages with a jerk. It's worse when you try to take it gently - it feels like you're a 16 y/o learning to drive a manual car, kangaroo hopping down the road. I drove my mates new R36 recently and it was smooth as silk. Time to head back to the dealer and get my mechatronics unit looked at.